Article-controlled gripping, printing, and severing machine



p 16, 1947. m. RAS 2427,418

ARTICLE-CONTROLLED GRIPPING, PRINTING, AND SEVERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 16, 1947. s 2,427,418

ARTICLE-CONTROLLED GRIPPING, PRINTING, AND SEVERING MACHINE v Filed. Aug. 28, 1942 5 sh98tSSh99t 2 NVENTOR mz/ w Sept. 16, 1947. F. Q. RAST ARTICLE-CONTROLLED GRIPPING, PRINTING, AND SEVERING MACHINE Filed Aug. '28, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY F. Q. RAST 2,427,418

ARTICLE-CONTROLLED GRIPPING, PRINTING, AND SEVERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet s Sept. 16, 1947.

a many V IN VENT OR B) ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1947 UNITED ARTICLE-CONTROLLED GRIPPING, PRINT- ING, AND SEVERING MACHINE Frederick Q. Rast, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Near York Application August 28, 1942, Serial No. 456,502

This invention relates to record printing or stamping machines, such as are used to print desired data or information on record sheets usually inserted in a slot provided in the machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine of the above character which is of improved construction and arrangement of parts.

A further object is to provide a machine of the type referred to which in one simple operation effectively divides a record sheet into two parts and prints the desired matter on both parts.

A still further object is to provide a machine of the above type wherein an improved means is provided which requires that the record sheet be both fully inserted in the slot and straight Within the slot before the machine can be operated.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a record stamping machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the end wall as partially broken away to expose the interior working parts, the latter portion of the view being in vertical section taken on the line ll of Fig. 2, and the moving parts of the machine being shown in their relative position when the machine is at rest or between successive operating cycles.

Fig. 2 is transverse vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, but with the movable parts shown in their relative position when the machine is at the mid-point in an operating cycle.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and showing the moving parts in the same relative position as Fig. 1.

Fig. '4 is a fragmentary vertical section through the base or body of the machine and showing the same relative position of moving parts as Fig. 1, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is also a fragmentary vertical section of the machine with the parts in the same position as Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail View showing in side elevation the movable element for dividing the record sheet and its operating cam, the position of the parts being the same as Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 6 showing the movable gripper bar and its operating cam.

- Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view l Claim. (Cl. 101--90) 2 taken on a plane parallel to and slightly in back of the plane of Fig. 5 and showing the lever and its operating cam, which operates immediately after the start of an operating cycle to hold the switch appearing in Fig. 5, closed until such cycle is completed.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing one form of record sheet or card which may be stamped and divided by the machine appearing in the preceeding views.

Fig. 10 is .a wiring diagram showing schematically an electric circuit for operating the record stamping machine. I 1

As will be apparent to those skilled in this art. the present invention is capable of a wide variety of applications. By way of example, the machine disclosed as being one preferred embodiment of this invention, may function as a receiptdate stamp for bills or statements of the type made with two separate parts bearing duplicate information, one part to be returned to the customer after payment and the other part to be retained by the creditor. This type of bill is customarily used by public utility companies. The machine disclosed will, in one operation, effectively stamp both parts of the bill with the desired record data and divide the bill into its two parts. By way of example, the machine may stamp the part returned to the customer with the word paid and with the date of payment and at the same time stamp the date on the part retained by the creditor. It will be appreciated, however, that any other data, or additional data, may be stamped on the two parts of the bill Without departing from the spirit or intended scope of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the construction illustrated the reference numeral I0 indicates the machine in its entirety. The machine'is provided with a rectangular slot I' l extending horizontally and inwardly from the front thereof and shaped to receive a record sheet or card to be stamped. The card is shown in Fig. 9 and is indicated by the reference numeral l2. The two lateral sides of the slot are provided by guide members I3 and I 4, respectively, fixed within the machine, and the guide members receive the two lateral edges l5 and I6, respectively, of the record. sheet.

The machine I0 comprises a casing H which is divided horizontally in the plane of the slot into a main body or base part I8 and a cover or head part l9 hinged at its rear as indicated at 20, to

the base part I8. During operation, the head 18 is always fixed to the base in'the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hinge connection being pro- 3 vided so that the head may be raised to facilitate access to the slot and the mechanism carried in the head.

The reference numeral 2| indicates a knife-like dividing element, or burster bar, which is mounted within the base l8 and is movable vertically upward across the plane of the slot H and functions when a record sheet is in the slot, to divide such sheet into two parts. When the record sheet is in the slot the perforated line 22 on the sheet is in vertical alignment with the path of movement of the element 2|, so that when the dividing element is moved upward the sheet will be divided thereby along the perforated line. Fig. 2 shows the element 2| in its uppermost position which it will occupy after having divided the card. Figs. 3, 4 and 6 show the lowermost position of the element which it will occupy between cycles of operation or when the machine is not in use. The element 2| is here shown as being formed as the outer part of an arm 23 pivotally supported at its other end to a stationary pivot rod or shaft 24 carried by a bracket 25 fixed to the base l8. A cam follower 25 is fixed to the underside of the arm 23 and engages the, periphery of a cam 21 fixed to a driven cam shaft 28. The driven shaft 28 is rotatably supported by its two ends mounted within journal bearings 29 and 30, respectively, the bearings being carried by the two sides 3| and 32 of the base IS. The cam follower 26 is kept in engagement with the cam 21 by a suitable tension spring 33 fixed at one end to the element 2| and its other end to a fixed bracket 34 secured to the front wall 35 of the base l8.

Two pairs of sheet-gripping members 38 ,and 31 are positioned on opposite sides of the dividing element 2|.- The pair 36 comprises fixed and movable members 38 and 39, respectively, arranged in opposed relation on opposite sides of the plane of the slot The fixed member 38 is carried by the head l9 and a strip of suitable material 48, such as rubber, is fixed to its underface and functions as a gripping surface. The movable gripping member 39 is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement and is formed as a part of an arm 4| which is pivoted at one end thereof to the support shaft 24. A cam follower 42 is fixed to the underside of the arm and engages the periphery of a cam 43 carried by the driven shaft 28. The upper gripping surface of the movable gripping member 39 is formed by a strip of suitable material such as rubber indicated at 44.

Likewise, the other pair 31 of sheet-gripping members comprises a fixed member 45 carried by the head l9 and having a rubber gripping surface 46 on its underface, and. a movable member 41 mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in the base l8 and having an upper gripping surface 48 cooperating with the surface 46 of the fixed member 45. The movable member 41 is identical in construction with the previously described movable member 39. Fig. 7 can be considered as a side elevation of either movable gripping member 39 or member 41, depending upon whether one is looking to the right or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. Consequently both sets of reference characters have been applied to Fig. 7. The member 41 forms a part of an arm 49 pivotally supported at one end to the pivot shaft 24 and has a cam follower 50 depending therefrom and engaging the periphery of a cam fixed to the driven shaft 28.

Tension springs 52 attached at their upper of the slot H.

or information on the record sheet.

4 ends to the members 39 and 41 and at their lower ends to the bracket 34 serve to keep the movable gripping members in engagement with their respective cams. With a record sheet 2 in the slot II and the driven shaft 28 being rotated, the movable gripping members 39 and 41 will simultaneously move vertically upward and engage the under surface of the record sheet and press the sheet firmly against the gripping surface of the fixed members 38 and 45. and thereby firmly hold the record sheet against movement in the slot. In Figs. 1, 4, and 7, the movable gripping members are shown in their lowermost position. From an examination of the shape of the cams 43 and 5|, it will be apparent that as the cams start to rotate the members 39 and 41 will be moved to their uppermost position almost immediately. The earns 43 and 5| are identical and occupy the same circumferential position on the shaft. Consequently,

the members 39 and 41 move up and down simultaneously. It is noted that the two pairs of gripping members 36 and 31 are arranged closely adjacent and on opposite sides of the dividing element 2|. They, therefore, hold the sheet |2 firmly while it is struck by the upwardly moving dividing element 2| thereby providing an effective means for dividing the sheet 2.

Also arranged on opposite sides of the dividing element 2|, are two pairs of printing members 55 and 56 respectively. The pair 55 comprises a fixed member 51 carrying printing characters and a vertically movable platen member 58 which are arranged in opposed relation on opposite sides of the plane in the slot. Also, the pair 56 comprises a fixed member 59 carrying printing characters and a movable platen member 69 arranged on opposite sides of the plane It is noted that, insofar as the present invention is concerned, the machine It may be constructed to print any desired data I have shown the fixed printing members 5'! and 59 as each comprising a series of date wheels 6| carried by a horizontal shaft 62 rotatably mounted at its end in the head l9. As will be readily appreciated, the wheels 6| can be individually adjusted on the shaft 62 to change the date, but while the machine is operating they are fixed. Hence, they are fixed members in an operating sense, but are independently adjustable for changing the date. In addition to the date wheels the fixed member 51 of the pair 55 of printing members may include an electroplate 63 fixed to the under surface of a horizontal bar 64 carried by the head |9 (see Fig. 5). The electroplate may carry any desired data such as the wordfpaid.

The usual inking ribbon 65 is disposed between each of the fixed members 51 and 59 and the plane of the slot Each inking ribbon is wound around rollers 66 mounted within the head If! and is attached at its ends to spools 61 and 68 rotatably mounted in the head l9 and operated by the usual mechanism in timed relation with the operation of the machine.

The movable platens 58 and 60 are identical in construction and are moved upwardly simultaneously to press the sheet l2 against the members 51 and 59 for printing. As shown the movable platen 58 is carried by the outer end of an arm 10 which is pivoted at its other end to the support shaft 24. A second arm H is pivotally supported by the shaft 24 and extends alongside the armlO and is adjustably fixed to a second arm 'I'! also pivotally supported ..at

one end .to the pivot shaft 24; The a-rm I1 carries a cam follower I8 engaging the periphery of a cam 19 which is fixed to the driven shaft 28. The cams I4 and I9 are identical in construction and occupy the same circumferential position on the driven shaft 28. The cam I9 appears in side elevation in Fig. l and the cam 14 in Fig. 5. The movable platen members 58 and 68 are kept in constant engagement with their respective cams by coil springs 88 attached at their upper ends to the platen members and at their lower ends to the fixed bracket 34 on the base I8.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a mechanism for operating the driven shaft 28, which mechanism is initiated by the insertion of a card or record sheet in the slot II and acts to rotate the driven shaft 28 one complete revolution'and then to stop rotation of the shaft. As stated, the cams 43 and 5| are so shaped and positioned on the driven shaft that immediately after the rotation of the shaft 28 is begun the movable gripping members simultaneously engage the record sheet and hold it firmly against movement in the slot. The

- platenmembers 58 and 68 are moved gradually upward and simultaneously by their cams I4 and I9 and attain their uppermost position, where printing is effected at about the mid-point of the shaft rotation, which is 180 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Upon examination of the shape of cam 21 in Figs. 4 and 6, it will be apparent that the dividing element 2| is not moved until the shaft approaches the mid-point of the rotation of the shaft28 and then the element 2I is moved quickly upward by its cam to deliver a' sharp blow to the record sheet, thereby effectively dividing the same into its two parts. The uppermost end of movement of the dividing element 2I is attained at approximately the mid-point in the rotation of the shaft 28.

The operating mechanism for the driven cam shaft 28 comprises an electric motor 82 mounted in the base I8 and connectable by a one-revolution clutch 83 to the shaft 28. The motor circuit is closed and the clutch 83 simultaneously engaged as a result of inserting the record sheet for the full depth and straight within the slot. The cam shaft 28 is then rotated one complete revolution and the clutch 83 disengaged. The structure is such that the act of disengaging the clutch also results in preventing further rotation of the cam shaft. The motor circuit is opened simultaneously with disengagement of the clutch. This comprises a cycle of the operation of the machine and it is repeated each time a record sheet is inserted in the slot.

The electric motor includes a motor shaft 84' and the latter is connected by spur gears 85 and 86 to a shaft 81 carrying a, worm gear 88 which meshes with a worm wheel 89 fixed to a driving sleeve 98 r atably mounted on the outer surface of the driven cam shaft 28. The driving sleeve 98 is adapted to be connected to the driven shaft 28 by the one revolution clutch 83 each time the record sheet is inserted in the slot. The clutch comprises a ratchet Wheel 9| fixed to the sleeve 98 and a dog 92 pivoted on a stud 93 carried by the side of a disk 94, the latter being fixed to the driven shaft 28 (see Figs. 2 and 5). The pivoted dog includes a tooth 95 which is constantly urged by a spring 96 into engagement with the ratchet wheel to clutch the rotating.

driving sleeve 98 to the driven shaft 28. Between cycles of operation the shaft 28 is stationary and the dog 92 is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel by a tail 9'! of the dog engaging a stop 98 carried by a latch lever 99. This-is the position shown in Fig. 5. When the lever 99 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 5, the-stop 98 will strike the stop 98 and thereby cause the dog; to pivot about the stud 93 and disengage the:

tooth 95 from the ratchet 9|, thus holding the shaft 28 in its idle position until by the insertion of another sheet I2 in the slot II the latch lever is again moved to disengage the stop 98 from the tail 91.

As the record sheet is inserted in the slot I I the rear edge I88 thereof engages and moves rear- Wardly the upper end I8I of a trip lever I82, located on the left-hand side of the machine as viewed from the front (see Figs. 2 and 3), and the lever is pivoted on a stud I83 carried by a bracket I84a fixed to the base I8. The lower end of the trip lever I82 is pivoted to the rear end of a link I84 which extends forwardly therefrom to the front of the machine and its forward end I85 slides through a vertical slot I86 formed in a lateral flange I81 of the latch lever 99. In Fig. 5, the plane of the section passes through the flange I81 so as to show the slot I88 clearly. The trip lever I82 and link I84 are urged rearward by a tension spring I88 connected to a stationary part of the machine, and the forward end I85 is urged upward to the top of the slot I86 by a tension spring I89 connected toa stud I I8 carried by a bracket lII fixed to the side of the housing II2 enclosing the worm 88 and worm wheel 89 (see Fig. 3). The upper surface of the forward end I85 is notched as indicated at H4, and the rear end or shoulder II5 of this notch engages the rear face of the flange I81 above the slot I86 between cycles of operation, the position. shown in Fig. 5.

The latch lever 99 comprises two parallel arms Ill and H8 connected at their front by a cross plate I I9 and both arms are pivotally supported at their upper ends by a stud I28 carried by the fixed bracket III. The arm Ill carries the stop 98 and the arm I I8 the lateral flange I81 having the vertical slot I86. The latch lever 99 is constantly urged to the rear toward latching position by a spring I2I connecting an ear I22 on the lever to the fixed stud I I 8.

As the link I84 is moved forwardly due to the record sheet engaging the 'upper end I8I of the motor 82.

the forward end I05 being moved downward until the hook I30 engages the catch I33 and thereby holds the link I04 in its forward position. The link is held in this position until a pin I36 (see Fig. 3) projecting from the side of the cam 43 strikes the link near the end of the single revolution of the shaft and thereby moves the link downward to disengage the hook I30 from the catch I33.

When the end I05 of the link is moved downward by engagement of the beveled surfaces I3I and I32, the rear shoulder II5 of the notch becomes disengaged from the flange I01 and the latch lever 99 is moved back by its spring I2I to the position where the stop 98 is in the path of the tail 91. However, this movement of the lever 99 will not open the contacts I26 and I28, because immediately after the cam shaft 28 begins to rotate a lever I38 carrying an actuating element I39 is moved into engagement with the member I26 to hold the switch closed (see also Fig, 8) The lever I38 is pivoted to the stud I20 between the two arms H1 and H8 of the latch lever 99 and a rounded projection I40 on the rear of the lever I38 engages the periphery of the disk 94. A spring I42 attached to the stud H and lever I38 urges the lever counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8. Between cycles of operation the projection fits within a recess MI in the periphery of the disk 94 and the element I39 is out of engagement with the movable contact carrying arm I26. When the shaft 28 begins to rotate the projection I40 is cammed out of the recess I4I to the high part of the periphery of the disk 94 and the element I39 moved thereby into the position to hold the contacts closed, which it will continue to do until the single revolution of the shaft is completed when the projection I40 again moves into the recess I4I to open the switch I21.

It is noted that the switch actuating element I25 and the element I39 are both made of insulating material and they are indicated as such in Fig. 3; but, for the sake of clarity, they are not so indicated in the other views where they appear.

From an examination of Fig. 10, it is noted that the motor circuit includes two other switches indicated at I45 and I46 respectively, which are connected in series with the switch I21 and the The switch I45 is one which is closed by the insertion of an operators key I41 which fits within a slot I48 extending through the end wall 3I of the base I8 and within a guide element I49 aligned with the slot I48 and fixed to the head I9 (see Fig. 2). Thus, the machine cannot be operated unless the head is in position on the base so that the operator can insert his key I41 and close the switch I45.

The switch I46 is closed by a second trip lever I50 which is arranged at the right-hand side of the machine as viewed from the front, and is also actuated by the rear edge I00 of the record sheet I2, which engages the upper end I! of the lever I50 and moves the latter rearwardly to switch closing position. Before the machine can be operated, the rear edge of the sheet must engage and move both trip levers I02 and I50 to close both switches I21 and I46. As the levers I02 and I50 are spaced from one another across the width of the slot, it is necessary that the sheet I2 be straight within the slot as well as fully inserted within the slot.,

The right-hand trip lever I50 can best be seen in Figs. 1, '2 and 3. As shown, the lever is pivoted to a stud I52 carried by a bracket I53 fixed to the base I8 and the lower end I54 of the trip lever carries a forwardly extending switch closing element I55 which is adapted to engage and move a resilient contact carrying arm I56 of the switch I 46 into circuit closing position with respect to its cooperating fixed contact I51. A link I58 is pivoted at its rear end to the lower end I54 of the triplever and extends forwardly therefrom. The forward end of the link is formed with a slot or yoke part I59 which receives the cam shaft 28 and with a cam follower I60 held in engagement with the outer surface of a collar I6I fixed to the cam shaft. The outer surface of the collar is cylindrical except for a recess I62 which is so positioned that it receives the cam follower when the cam shaft is idle, or the position it occupies between cycles of operation. The resilience of contact arm I56 acting through the element I55, lever I50, and link I58 is enough to keep the cam follower I60 in engagement with the collar I6I. Thus when the switch I46 is initially closed by the record sheet moving the trip lever I50, the link I58 is also moved rearwardly; and when the shaft 28 begins to rotate the recess I62 moves from the follower I60 and the latter engages the higher cylindrical surface of the collar I6I. The link I58 will thus be held in its forward position and with it the lower end I54 of the trip lever and the switch closing element I55 will be held in the switch closing position.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim:

What is claimed is:

In a cyclically operable machine for simultaneously stamping [and severing a record sheet and having a slot extending inwardly from an outer defining wall portion thereof and being so formed as to receive and position a fully inserted record sheet in a predetermined manner, the combination of a reciprocally mounted burster element movable from an initial position, at one side of the plane of the slot, towards and through the plane of the slot and so as to engage and sever, along a transverse line, a fully inserted record sheet positioned therein; sheet gripping means comprising a pair of spaced reciprocally mounted gripping members located, respectively, at opposite sides of said burster element and being movable from respective initial positions, at one side of the plane of the slot, towards the plane of said slot and into gripping engagement with a fully inserted record sheet at spaced positions located, respectively, on opposite sides of and adjacent to the transverse line of engagement of said burster element; printing means comprising a reciprocally mounted printing element movable from an initial'position, at one side of the plane of said slot, into printing engagement with an inserted record sheet; and power operated means for effecting an operating cycle of said machine each time a record sheet is fully inserted in said slot; and said power operated means including means operable at the beginning of each cycle to movesaid gripping members from their said initial positions into grippingengagement with the inserted'sheet and to hold such sheet against movement for a predetermined peripd' of time, and operableduring the latter portion of each cycle to return said gripping mnbers to their said initial positions,

Jeans operable during each cycle for moving said burster element from its said initial position and into severing engagement with the inserted sheet while the latter is being held against movement by saidgripping members and then moving said burster element back to its said initial position, and means also operable during each cycle for moving said printing element from its said initial position and into printing engagement with said inserted sheet while the latter 10 is held by said gripping members and then returning said printing element to its said initial position.

FREDERICK Q. RAST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

